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Category Archives: Cyber/Tech

Small Businesses Must Be Aware Of Ransomware And Problems It Can Cause

Posted onDecember 13, 2022
Craig Stephenson, senior cybersecurity analyst at Tech II Business Services.
Courtesy Tech II

By Christine Graf

In 2021, an estimated 37 percent businesses were the target of ransomware—a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. 

The price tag for these worldwide attacks was a staggering $20 billion. The dollar amount is expected to reach $265 billion by 2031, experts say.

In order to combat ransomware and other cybersecurity attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has partnered with members of the private sector. Through a program called InfraGard, they work together to protect the country’s critical infrastructure. 

Craig Stephenson, senior cybersecurity analyst at Tech II Business Services in Saratoga Springs, is a member of InfraGard. Tech II provides managed information technology services to small and medium sized businesses.

According to Stephenson, cyberattacks represent a clear and present danger to all companies regardless of size.

 “We are being inundated on a daily basis by bad actors from around the world. They are trying to steal the intellectual property from businesses or trying to get money from them. The FBI put together an unclassified video, and it’s an eye opener on how China is specifically and systematically trying to attack the United States in regards to stealing intellectual property.”

When it comes to ransomware, Stephenson said what he calls the “human firewall” is to blame for most attacks. 

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$50 Million Available In NYS For Firms Developing Cyber Safety Programs

Posted onDecember 13, 2022

New York state has opened applications for $50 million to strengthen safety and security measures at nonprofit, community-based organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission. 

The funding is the greatest amount ever available through the program, state officials said. Nonprofit organizations that have previously received grants may now apply for new security projects, and for the first time, cybersecurity projects will be considered for funding. 

The state also announced $46 million in federal funding for 240 nonprofit organizations across the state facing an increased risk of terrorist attack. This critical funding will assist in strengthening the security of their facilities, as well as enhance overall preparedness.

“Hate has no place in New York, and we will continue to support organizations that are most vulnerable to vicious and violent attacks,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “With this new round of unprecedented funding, these at-risk facilities will be able to fund safety precautions, including cybersecurity projects, to protect vulnerable people from those who would lash out against them due to their ideology, belief or mission.”

Officials said the announcement came as hate and bias incidents persist throughout New York and federal authorities have warned of security threats in neighboring states targeting faith-based institutions. Hate crimes adversely and disproportionately affect entire communities, not just the intended targets. 

While the number of hate crimes reported to police in the state represents a small fraction of total crime, these incidents traumatize and instill fear in the greater community. New York state tracks these incidents separately from other crimes so trends can be monitored, and steps can be taken to prevent them from occurring in the first place, officials said.

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Local Company’s Technology Allows People To Make Digital Purchases Using Ring Finger

Posted onDecember 13, 2022
The Quontic Pay Ring is a payment technology that allows customers wearing the ring to conveniently wave their hand near a contactless terminal to make retail purchases.
Courtesy of BankWise

BankWise Technology, a Saratoga Springs developer of advanced custom programming for banks, announced that it has provided the system development, integration, and support for the nation’s first wearable payment ring launched by the award-winning digital bank Quontic. 

The Quontic Pay Ring is an innovative payment technology that allows Quontic customers wearing the ring to conveniently wave their hand near a contactless terminal to make retail purchases. Officials said the process is like tapping a credit or debit card and can be used worldwide at any payment terminal that accepts contactless payments. 

The launch of this product required significant development effort to integrate the systems, streamline the operational processes and implement the safeguards necessary to both deliver the rings and to ensure their usefulness once deployed, according to BankWise. It provided the code and systems to manage key components of the product including customer authentication, ring ordering, sizing and fulfillment, ring activation, inventory management, integration with the bank’s core system, and customer communication updates via email or SMS on the pay ring’s order status.

“We are honored to be part of Quontic’s newest and very innovative product launch and for it to be the first of its kind in the U.S.,” said Sergei Morgoslepov, co-president and chief technology officer of BankWise. “We were brought into this complex project to help design, implement, and manage a middleware solution that allows Quontic to offer this payment device to their customers. 

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SUNY Adirondack, SUNY Plattsburg Starting Computer Security Degree Program

Posted onDecember 13, 2022

SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh have an agreement to create a bachelor’s degree program in computer security at the college’s shared Queensbury campus.

The completion program will begin in the fall 2023 semester, offering a two-year study option for graduates of SUNY Adirondack’s associate degree programs in information technology: cybersecurity and information technology: information security, or transfer students with a similar background. 

“We are eager to welcome students into our new bachelor degree completion program in computer security, one of the only computer security majors among the SUNY comprehensive colleges,” said Emma Bartscherer, director of SUNY Plattsburgh’s branch campus at SUNY Adirondack. “With the added benefit of a concentration in threat analysis, students will graduate with a competitive advantage and many career prospects.”

“True to our motto, ‘You don’t have to leave to go far,’ SUNY Plattsburgh’s branch campus serves students in the region as the only four-year school with a presence in Warren County, Bartscherer said. 

Computer security is the latest 2+2 agreement between SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Plattsburgh. The two colleges also offer joint in-person degree programs in psychology and criminal justice, and online in business administration and RN to B.S. in nursing.

“SUNY Adirondack is excited to team with SUNY Plattsburgh to offer our IT graduates a chance to further their studies in this high-demand field,” said Kristine D. Duffy, Ed.D., president of SUNY Adirondack. “We know there is great need for experts in cybersecurity, in our region and beyond, so it’s critical those interested have access to a high-quality, affordable education to protect against online threats, attacks and breaches.”

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AARP Fraud Watch Network Survey Shows Holiday Online Senior Shoppers Targeted

Posted onDecember 13, 2021

An AARP Fraud Watch Network report is alerting consumers of scams they could encounter over the holidays. Of those surveyed, 75 percent  reported they have been targeted or experienced at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays.  

“Scammers are out in force during the holidays to try to steal money or sensitive information from consumers,” said Kathy Stokes, AARP director of fraud prevention programs. “Online shopping, shipping gifts and even charitable donations can become tools for scammers to use in their schemes. Knowing the warning signs is the first step you can take to spot and avoid scams.”  

Three quarters of adults surveyed said they plan on shopping online for the holidays, but consumers need to know the red flags before logging in. Over a third of adults reported they experienced fraud when buying a product through an online advertisement. Some online advertisements can download malicious software onto devices or lead the shopper to a cloned site of a legitimate store.

Officials said scams can also occur when shoppers search online for customer service contact information. Nearly half of adults surveyed believe the customer support number found at the top of an online search can be trusted. Online ads that appear to be a legitimate company’s customer service information can be a scammer’s attempt to get consumers to call them instead. 

Use a billing statement or other information obtained directly from the company to find legitimate numbers, officials advised. Also, a retailer will never ask for your log-in information when providing customer support.

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Communications Technology Like Zoom Is Helping Business People Meet During COVID

Posted onDecember 11, 2020December 14, 2020

By Jill NAgy
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the dynamics of how offices run and how business meetings are held as companies work to meet health and safety standards.
“Everyone’s jumping on the Zoom,” said Rose Miller, head of Pinnacle Human Resources, an Albany company with an office in Saratoga Springs. Miller is quick to praise Zoom and other remote communication methods, but added, “We’re all looking forward to meeting face-to-face again.”
Saratoga attorney Debra Verni of Herzog Law has been presenting “webinars” on a regular basis covering such topics as “What To Do When A Loved One Dies,” “How Not To Pay For Services,” wills versus trusts, and “Aging in Place.” She has also mastered the complicated new rules for witnessing and notarizing documents remotely. Now she no longer has to meet with clients in a parking lot or back porch to have them execute documents.
“There were a few glitches in the beginning,” she said, but things are going smoothly now.
Patti Gray Whann, owner of Glens Falls Area Realty, said the real estate industry “was way ahead” using online resources for at least 10 years. In fact, one online source, Zillow, has revolutionized the industry.
“In the old days,” she said, “Realtors had the book,” which contained all the information on real estate listings. Clients had to come into the office to look at listings. Now, “Zillow took all the information we had and put it on the internet.”
COVID restrictions prevent real estate agents from attending closings, inspections, and other steps in the purchase and sale process. But transactions can now take place remotely. Also, mandatory continuing education courses are all online this year.
Tim Halliday, a Malta businessman and president of the Malta Business Association, said the current situation “put us three to five years ahead of where we would be anyway.”

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AARP Report Says 26 Percent Of Those Over 55 Are Victims Of Cyber Identity Fraud

Posted onDecember 11, 2020December 14, 2020

A report in November from AARP shows that 26 percent of Americans aged 55-plus have been victims of identity fraud, according to the organization.
However, more are taking additional precautions to prevent losses of personal information, as 29 percent have placed credit freezes on their credit bureau information following an identity theft incident. More than half have enrolled in identity protection or credit monitoring services, the report said.
The report, “Identity Fraud in Three Acts,” was developed by Javelin Strategy & Research and sponsored by AARP.
“Older Americans are leading more digitally infused lives, with two-thirds using online banking weekly, so it’s encouraging to see that many are taking proactive steps to protect their identity following a data breach,” said Kathy Stokes, director of AARP Fraud Prevention Programs. “Passwords still represent a security threat, however; using repeated passwords across multiple online accounts makes it easy for criminals to crack one of them so that all of your accounts, including financial accounts, become accessible.”
According to the report, consumers 55-plus want to bank using stronger security authentication. Roughly 90 percent state a desire to use more fingerprint scanning, and 80 percent view facial recognition capabilities as trustworthy forms of technology for financial transactions and private business matters.
The report also said identity fraud victims age 65-plus do not necessarily change how they shop, bank or pay following a fraudulent event, with 70 percent exhibiting reluctance to change familiar habits.
“Criminals are regularly targeting Americans aged 55-plus through a combination of sophisticated scams via computer malware and also through more traditional low-tech channels via telephone and U.S. mail,” said the report’s author, John Buzzard, lead analyst, fraud and security at Javelin. “The combination of high-tech and low-tech strategies unfortunately gives the upper hand to the criminal — not the consumer.”
The report offers several tips on protecting against identity fraud, including:
• Hang up on strangers, and independently verify everything.

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Business Report: Passwords Are A Necessary Evil

Posted onDecember 12, 2019December 13, 2019
Vicki A. Marking, marketing director, PrimeLink Inc.

BY VICKI A. MARKING
Here’s a quick test. What do these seemingly random alphanumerical groupings have in common?
1. 123456
2. password
3. 123456789
4. 12345678
5. 12345
6. 111111
7. 1234567
8. sunshine
9. qwerty
10. iloveyou

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Adirondack Trust App Allows Customers To Get Discounts At Various Local Businesses

Posted onDecember 12, 2019December 13, 2019
Celia Vincek of Adirondack Trust Co. uses her company’s new Beyond Savings app.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf
Adirondack Trust Co. has launched a free smartphone app that provides consumers with the opportunity to receive discounts and other perks at participating local businesses.
The app, called Beyond Savings, uses customized software developed by a third party provider.
According to Adirondack Trust Executive Vice President Charles Wait, it was Robert Ward who first came to him with the idea for the app. Ward is vice president-marketing manager at the bank.
“I knew we needed a rewards program, and Rob came to me with the idea,” said Wait. “It was very easy to say ‘yes’ to. It uses technology to provide local shopping rewards. If I go to one of the vendors on our list—Forno Bistro for example—and I have the app on my phone, I can get a discount. So that benefits not only the user but also the merchants who are our customers. It’s a nice partnership.”

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